Department for Transport

Invalid Vehicles: Greater London

Dr William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many Class 3 mobility scooters have been registered for road use in London in each of the last three years.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The number of Class 3 mobility scooters licensed at the end of 2011, 2012 and 2013 in Greater London is as follows:-   2011: 2,666 2012: 3,129 2013: 3,697

Cycling

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has for the future funding of Bikeability.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Government's vision is that every child who can walk or cycle to school should do so. In 2006/07 the Bikeability cycle training programme was launched, and over 1 million young people have been trained to the National Standard. We published a draft Cycling Delivery Plan on 16 October 2014, which provides an opportunity to receive views on the future funding of Bikeability. The Government will consider responses to our informal consultation and publish our final plan in late autumn.

Roads

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 13 October 2014 to Question 208974, whether cost benefit ratios are conducted for any Highways Agency schemes in the planning or scoping phase.

Mr John Hayes: In the early scoping phase of work, the required strategic outline business case does not require the production of benefit cost ratios.   In the later scoping and planning phases, as schemes develop the Outline Business Case (known as the Options and Development Phases in the Highways Agency Project Lifecycle Framework), the Highways Agency then follows the relevant and appropriate sections of the Department for Transport’s Transport Analysis Guidance in order to determine the cost benefit ratio.

Great Western Railway Line

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress his Department has made on increasing capacity across the Great Western rail franchise.

Claire Perry: Capacity increases across the Great Western franchise include the ongoing conversion of First Class seating to Standard Class on the HST fleet which will provide 3,000 more standard class seats a day for passengers; an increase of 16% in the morning peak (as I stated in the House, “I have sat in the 2,000th seat to be delivered under that programme” (17 Oct 2014: Column 655)), and the electrification of the Great Western main line between London, Oxford, Newbury, Bristol and Swansea, which together with the electrification of the Thames valley branch lines allows capacity increases, through the deployment of new electric powered rolling stock, and the cascade of the diesel powered stock that they replace to non-electrified parts of the network. The Great Western Main Line will be equipped with brand-new Inter-City express trains, which form part of our commitment to provide better, more comfortable journeys for passengers, with over 2000 new carriages being in service across the UK rail network by the end of 2019. In addition to this, the Crossrail project will boost capacity for services from Reading into, and beyond, central London.

Home Office

Passports

Stephen Pound: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she proposes to take to improve the efficiency of the process of returning passports to applicants within the UK.

James Brokenshire: The exceptional demand for passports this year did result in some delays in returning supporting documents, including passports, to applicants.Steps have been taken to ensure that customers receive their documents in a timely manner, these include increasing resources within the teams that are responsible for preparing the documents for return and improvements to overseas processes.

Immigration Controls

Mr David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people were detained at border points of entry for (a) having a false passport, (b) having incorrect visa authorisation and (c) any other reason in each of the last three years.

Mr David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people who absconded after apprehension by UK Border Force staff at ports of entry in each of the last three years were subsequently captured.

Mr David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people detained at border ports of entry in each of the last three years were granted temporary admission.

Mr David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people absconded from ports of entry after being stopped by UK Border Force staff in each of the last three years.

James Brokenshire: Table one below shows how many people were detained at border points of entry in the last 3 years. ‘Detained’ has been taken to mean those issued an IS81 at a border point of entry, which means that the person has been stopped subject to further examination. Table 1 Time periodNumber of people issued an IS812011/1227,9452012/1325,2842013/1430,531To establish the reason why the person was detained at the border would incur a disproportionate cost, as this would involve the examination of individual records. Since this government split Border Force from the flawed UK Border Agency and introduced a Ministerially approved Operating Mandate, Border Force’s performance has improved across the board. The number of people who have absconded from a port of entry having been stopped by a Border Force officer has significantly decreased since 2012.The number of people who absconded from ports of entry after being stopped by Border Force officers in each of the last three years is shown in table two: Table 2 Time periodNumber of people absconded2011/1262012/1352013/142This compares with 28 people in 2007/2008, 24 people in 2008/2009 and 11 people in 2009/10. The number of people who have been stopped by a Border Force Officer that have been recovered having absconded from a port of entry is shown in table three:  Table 3 Time periodNumber of absconders who subsequently recovered2011/1212012/1322013/140  The number of people detained at border ports of entry in each of the last three years who were granted temporary admission is shown in table four:This is management information, which is subject to internal quality checks, and may be subject to change.   Table 4 Time periodNumber of people issued an IS81 who were granted temporary admission2011/125,7022012/134,1302013/146,720



Table - PQ 208119
(Excel SpreadSheet, 25.5 KB)

Illegal Immigrants: Greater London

Teresa Pearce: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many illegal immigrants have been identified in (a) London and (b) Greenwich under Operation Skybreaker to date.

James Brokenshire: A full evaluation will be conducted at the end of Operation Skybreaker which runs from July 2014 to December 2014.

Illegal Immigrants: Greater London

Teresa Pearce: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, under what criteria it was decided to deploy Operation Skybreaker in Brent, Ealing, Greenwich, Newham and Tower Hamlets; and if she will make a statement.

James Brokenshire: Operation Skybreaker is a pilot approach to encourage greater compliance with the Immigration rules in 10 pilot areas. Immigration Enforcement has used existing intelligence to prioritise its activities.

Illegal Immigrants

Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what average length of time it currently takes for documentation necessary to return home to be issued to an illegal immigrant found in the UK without such documentation who is from (a) India, (b) Bangladesh, (c) Pakistan, (d) Nigeria and (e) China.

James Brokenshire: The information below sets out the average number of days taken from application to agreement for each country. The information relates to emergency travel documents agreed by the countries concerned in financial year 2013/14. Applications for travel documents are usually processed more quickly when an individual provides accurate supporting evidence of their identity and nationality. In some cases the process may take a lot longer where identity or nationality is disputed. Average daysBangladesh 129China 44India 131Nigeria 101Pakistan 83Internal Home Office management information has been used to provide a response to this question. These figures are not quality assured under National Statistics protocols and are subject to change due to internal data quality checking. Figures provided from this source do not constitute part of National Statistics and should be treated as provisional.

Radicalism

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how funding under the Channel programme is allocated to local authorities and police forces.

James Brokenshire: Each of the nine police regions receives funding through the CT Police Grant to support the Channel programme. The grant also includes funding for OSCT approved intervention providers to mentor individuals on a theological or ideological basis. Funding is allocated based on an assessment of the risk of exposure to radicalisation. We do not directly fund local authorities for the purposes of Channel. The CT Police Grant has been protected as part of a two year settlement in 14-15 and 15-16 at £564.3 million.

British Nationality

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many individuals have been deprived of their British Citizenship under subsection (2) of section 40 of the British Nationality Act 1981 in the last six months; how many such cases fell within subsection (4A) of that section; and if she will make a statement.

James Brokenshire: Under section 40 of the British Nationality Act 1981, the Secretary of State is empowered to deprive, by order, any person of any form of British nationality, subject to satisfying the relevant criteria. The Secretary of State may deprive somebody of their British citizenship if satisfied that such deprivation is conducive to the public good or the individual obtained British citizenship by means of fraud, false representation or concealment of a material fact. Since April 2014, seven people have been deprived of their citizenship on the grounds that it was either conducive to the public good to do so, or that the individual concerned obtained their British citizenship by means of fraud, false representation or concealment of a material fact. No cases have been deprived under subsection (4A) of that section.Please note: this information has been provided from local management information and is not a national statistic. As such, it should be treated as provisional and therefore subject to change.

Police: Football

Jacob Rees-Mogg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 8 September 2014 to Question 207071, for what reasons the correct agencies for exchanging information relevant to policing international football matches would be difficult to identify if the UK ceased to be bound by Council Decision 2002/348/JHA.

Karen Bradley: If the UK ceased to be bound by Council Decision 2002/348/JHA, it would cease to be a member of the National Football Information Points (NFIPs) network. Information exchange between Member States independent of the structure and obligations of the NFIP risks making it more difficult to guarantee appropriate high-quality information. The lack of structure and obligations would make it more difficult to identify the correct agency with which to deal and could lead to a reduction in the quality and quantity of information exchanged, making it harder to protect the public.

Prostitution

Dr Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of (a) the outcomes and (b) the cost-effectiveness of the National Ugly Mugs Scheme.

Norman Baker: The National Ugly Mugs Scheme is a national mechanism for reporting crimes committed against people involved in prostitution. The Home Office funded a pilot that ran from April 2012 to March 2013, co-ordinated by the UK Network of Sex Worker Projects. The evaluation of the pilot is available on their website: uknswp.org The Home Office does not collate figures on criminal justice outcomes or cost-effectiveness as a direct result of the National Ugly Mugs Scheme, although informally the scheme is widely regarded as a useful one. It is continuing with funding from sources other than the Home Office.

Human Trafficking

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much funding her Department has allocated for campaigns to promote awareness of human trafficking in the 2014-15 financial year; how much of that funding was spent sponsoring an article in the Daily Mail; and whether her Department has placed sponsored articles placed in any other newspapers.

Karen Bradley: The Home Office has allocated a budget of £2.3 million to raise awareness of Modern Slavery in the UK and promote a new Modern Slavery helpline and website. The objective is to increase reporting of slavery so that more victims can be supported and protected and more perpetrators of this heinous and hidden crime are brought to justice. We have paid for a number of sponsored online and print articles in the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday to raise awareness of the issue and encourage reporting at a cost of £154,000. We are unable to give a cost for individual articles because of commercial confidentiality. We have also placed a number of sponsored articles in The Daily Telegraph and The Sunday Telegraph at a cost of £125,000.

Stalking

Mr Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will introduce a new protective order to place a positive obligation on stalkers.

Norman Baker: The Coalition Government is committed to protecting victims of stalking, which is why we introduced two new stalking offences in 2012. While we have no current plans to legislate further on this issue, we will continue to keep the legal framework under review.

Diplomatic Service: Entry Clearances

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what mechanisms are in place to progress visas for foreign diplomats.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Alcoholic Drinks

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans his Department has in place to monitor and evaluate the success of the Government's Alcohol Strategy published in 2012.

Norman Baker: We will base the success of the Alcohol Strategy on reductions in alcohol related crime and health harms alongside proportionate and effective regulation. This is being monitored on an ongoing basis with our cross-government partners.

Internet: Data Protection

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent steps she has taken to ensure that the public is properly informed of how to ensure the safety and security of their personal details online.

Karen Bradley: The Government takes the issue of cyber crime extremely seriously. Cyber Streetwise is the Government’s national campaign to increase online security by encouraging both members of the public and SMEs to take simple actions to protect themselves and their information online as they would do in ‘real life’. Cyber Streetwise first launched in January 2014 and is funded by the Government’s National Cyber Security Programme. Following its initial success, Phase 2 of the campaign launched this week with a newly designed website, including a dedicated section on protecting your online privacy.

Terrorism: Firearms

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) shotgun certificate holders and (b) firearms licence holders have been (i) charged and (ii) convicted of offences under anti-terrorism legislation in the last five years.

Norman Baker: The Home Department publishes a quarterly statistical bulletin which gives statistics on Counter-Terrorism arrests and convictions. However information on whether a person is a shotgun or firearms certificate holder is not collected.www.gov.uk/government/statistics/operation-of-police-powers-under-the-terrorism-act-2000-financial-year-ending-March-2014www.gov.uk/government/statistics/operation-of-police-powers-under-the-terrorism-act-2000-quarterly-update-to-September-2013

Terrorism: Firearms

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent estimate her Department has made of the numbers of shotgun certificate or firearms licence holders who (a) are at risk of radicalisation and (b) have shown signs of radicalisation, extremism or sympathy towards such acts; and if she will place in the Library a copy of any risk assessment undertaken on this matter.

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what evidence her Department has received of (a) involvement in terrorism and (b) radicalisation among people holding firearms licenses or shotgun certificates.

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate her Department has made of how many shotgun certificate or firearms licence holders are vulnerable to (a) criminal or terrorist activities and (b) approaches by those engaged in criminal or terrorist activity; and if she will place in the Library a copy of any risk assessment undertaken on this matter.

Norman Baker: The UK has some of the toughest gun laws in the world. The Coalition Government is of the view that controls on firearms should be targeted fairly and proportionately, striking the right balance between securing public safety without unnecessarily affecting legitimate users. The licensing of firearms and shotguns is carried out by the police and the assessment of the suitability of an individual to possess a firearm or shotgun is an operational matter. Forces must have appropriate measures in place to ensure that all relevant information and intelligence is readily available for the assessment of suitability to be made on a continuous basis.

Egmont Group

Jacob Rees-Mogg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, through what secure means financial intelligence units of Egmont Group members exchange information; and how that means of exchange differs from information exchange through FIU.net.

Karen Bradley: Egmont Group members share financial intelligence through a dedicated secure network. Egmont Group membership consists of approximately 147 countries and jurisdictions and is underpinned by the principles of the Egmont Charter to which members are signatories. The service enables secure transmission of messages together with attachments and is email based.FIU.Net is a European Union initiative which is available to the National Financial Intelligence Units of all EU Member States. FIU.Net provides a secure method of requesting and sharing financial intelligence between Member States. FIU.Net allows for transmission of messages together with attachments via dedicated secure servers in each jurisdiction. FIU.Net provides UK law enforcement agencies with additional functionality over Egmont secure web, such as anonymised case and data matching.The UK’s domestic legislation allows for the exchange of intelligence data with overseas partners. Council Decision 2000/642/JHA provides a gateway for those member states, in the absence of specific domestic gateway legislation, to exchange data lawfully and efficiently. As a signatory to the decision the UK is able to exchange relevant information with countries lacking domestic gateway legislation.If we ceased to be bound by the Framework Decision we may lose access to FIU.net. Further, we would no longer benefit from the deadlines for prompt exchange of information provided by the 'Swedish Initiative' (FD 2006/960/JHA) in conjunction with FD 2000/642/JHA.

Schengen Agreement: ICT

Jacob Rees-Mogg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 2 September 2014, to Question 207060, whether UK police would be able to avoid arresting persons pursuant to an Article 26 alert under Council Decision 2007/533/JHA on grounds of lack of proportionality, should the UK connect to the Schengen Information System II, given the provisions of Article 25 of that Decision requiring a decision not to arrest to be taken by a judicial authority.

Karen Bradley: Council Decision 2007/533/JHA is legislative basis for governing the second generation of the Schengen Information System (SIS II) for the purposes of police and judicial co-operation in criminal matters. In line with Article 25(2) of Council Decision 2007/533/JHA, the National Crime Agency has the authority to refuse to validate Article 26 alerts on proportionality grounds where a general instruction has been issued. This means that UK police officers will not arrest people subject to an Article 26 alert where there is a lack of proportionality.Concerning Article 34 alerts, under Article 35 the UK authorities are not required actively to ascertain the place of residence or domicile of relevant persons, only to communicate such information. Clearly, if they do not hold such information it cannot be communicated. However, if there is supporting information that justifies activity to ascertain proactively the place of residence or domicile of relevant persons action will be taken by UK authorities.

Offences against Children

Mr Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, How many reports the police recorded of sexual offences against children under 16 in each local authority in (a) 2009 and (b) the last year for which figures are available.

Norman Baker: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Hong Kong

Dr William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Chinese government concerning the treatment of protestors in Hong Kong.

Mr Hugo Swire: We have consistently called on all sides to ensure that the demonstrations are peaceful and in accordance with the law. This month, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend, the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond) and I met the Chinese Ambassador to discuss developments in Hong Kong and to set out the UK position on constitutional reform. On 14 October I met the Hong Kong Government’s Secretary of Justice to discuss the importance of the introduction of universal suffrage. I issued a Written Ministerial Statement on the situation in Hong Kong on 13 October, calling on all sides to ensure that demonstrations remain peaceful. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has also issued statements on the situation on 2 October, 29 September and 4 September. As we have made clear, we hope that all parties engage constructively in dialogue.

Islamic State

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the threat of Islamic State in (a) the Maldives and (b) other countries outside Iraq and Syria.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The threat posed by ISIL, both to the Middle East and to the rest of the world, is severe. ISIL does not recognise national boundaries, colour or creed. We are aware of the activity of ISIL sympathisers in the Maldives, and we will continue to engage with the Maldives government about the promotion of religious freedom and moderation. We will continue to monitor the threat from ISIL and to work closely with a wide range of international partners, including Iraq and Syria’s neighbours. The UK continues to play a leading role in the comprehensive coalition effort to degrade and defeat ISIL – military action is a necessary part of that effort, but ultimately the solution to ISIL is a political one.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

New Businesses: Government Assistance

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many start-up loans have been granted, and how much money has been loaned through that scheme, in (a) Barnsley East constituency, (b) South Yorkshire and (c) England since its inception.

Matthew Hancock: Start Up LoansBarnsley East South Yorkshire England United KingdomVolume of Drawn Loans1232119,90121,470Value of Drawn Loans£60,000£1,551,421£106,326,369£113,485,492

Arms Trade

Mr Gerry Sutcliffe: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what UK arms sales and of what value there were to (a) Libya, (b) Sudan, (c) Somalia, (d) Argentina, (e) Columbia, (f) Zimbabwe, (g) Sri Lanka, (h) Pakistan and (i) Saudi Arabia in (i) 2013 and (ii) 2014 to date.

Matthew Hancock: We do not hold data on actual arms sales, only on export licences we have granted. They are available to view at:   https://www.exportcontroldb.bis.gov.uk/sdb/fox/sdb/SDBHOME.

Business: Stafford

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps his Department has taken to increase the level of access to credit for businesses in Stafford constituency in the last 12 months.

Matthew Hancock: The Government is committed to ensuring businesses can access the finance they need to invest and grow.   We are setting up the British Business Bank to make finance markets work better for small firms. Over the next five years, the Bank aims to unlock up to £10 billion of financing for viable smaller businesses. The Business Bank funds schemes including Start Up Loans and the Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme. A breakdown of businesses in the Stafford Constituency that have been supported by British Business Bank schemes last 12 months are detailed in the table below.Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme (EFG)Start Up Loans Company Stafford constituency7 loans with a drawn value of £1,051,70016 loans with a drawn value of £59,850 *Data from 01/09/2013-31/08/2014   The Black Country Reinvestment Society (BCRS) are a Community Development Finance Institution (CDFI) serving the Stafford constituency providing credit and funding to local businesses unable to secure finance from traditional financial institutions such as banks. BCRS are accredited to provide EFG backed lending facilities and are also a Start Up Loan delivery partner.   The Community Development Finance Association (of which BCRS is a member) have also received Regional Growth Fund support   There is one Round 1 Regional Growth Fund project in the Stafford constituency with a grant of £4 million, leveraging £56.5 million of private sector investment and creating or safeguarding 1,600 jobs.   The grant will assist this project to undertake research and development (R&D) for the creation of High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) power transmission products at a new engineering centre of excellence in Stafford. The project will create 200 jobs and safeguard 1400 jobs in Stafford and involves a new R&D centre, together with the installation of technical equipment.

Business: Stafford

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps his Department is taking to support small and medium-sized businesses in Stafford constituency.

Matthew Hancock: Small businesses are the lifeblood of our economy and our small business owners have driven this economic recovery. Stafford has benefitted from a number of support schemes. The Start-Up Loan Scheme has provided business advice and 16 loans with a value of almost £60,000 to people starting a business. Since May 2010, 7 companies have benefitted from the Government’s Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme with a drawn down value of over £1 million.   We are committed to making Britain the best place in the world to start and grow a business, and are doing this in a number of ways: £10 billion of financing will be unlocked for smaller business over the next 5 years by our British Business Bank;Government grants of up to £3000 for better internet connectivity are available to small businesses; The Business Support Helpline is available to provide bespoke information and advice;Cuts to corporation tax from 28% to 21%; and£2,000 cut from the National Insurance bills of small firms from the new Employment Allowance.

Business: Sustainable Development

Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether his Department has (a) commissioned or (b) conducted research on the effects on a business's competitiveness of building sustainability into its core strategy.

Matthew Hancock: The Department has not commissioned or conducted research into this issue.

Apprentices

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many people who accessed a traineeship in the last 12 months have progressed to an accredited apprenticeship.

Nick Boles: Progression data for Traineeships is planned for publication, subject to data quality, in a Statistical First Release. When available, it will be accessible at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/learner-participation-outcomes-and-level-of-highest-qualification-held.

Department for International Development

Developing Countries: Education

Chris Heaton-Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps she has taken to ensure that teacher training funded by her Department promotes the inclusion of children with disabilities in education.

Lynne Featherstone: The UK Government has committed to help train 190,000 teachers by 2015, to help improve the quality of education for all children, including those with disabilities. By 2013/14, DFID had supported the training of 123,000 teachers. A major challenge in poor countries is developing the data systems which can capture the needs of children with disabilities. We are therefore supporting UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) to regularly publish education indicators which disaggregate people with disabilities, and to develop new standards for school censuses and surveys related to marginalised populations.

Department for Education

Balaam Wood Academy

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the application for Priority School Building Programme funding by Balaam Wood Academy; and what phase of the programme the Academy is at.

Mr David Laws: The second phase of the Priority School Building Programme (PSBP2) will undertake major rebuilding and refurbishment projects in schools, or individual school buildings, in the very worst condition. Responsible bodies were invited to express an interest in the programme, on behalf of their schools, in July. We are currently assessing the expressions of interest and anticipate that we will be able to inform applicants of the outcome by the end of the year.

Classroom Assistants: Qualifications

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure that teaching assistants in schools have the correct qualifications.

Mr David Laws: The Education (Specified Work and Registration) (England) Regulations 2003, require teaching assistants to work under the direction and supervision of a qualified teacher. This ensures that a teacher continues to provide the leading contribution to the teaching and learning.The regulations also require headteachers to be satisfied that the teaching assistant has the appropriate skills, expertise and experience.

Secondary Education

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure that secondary education provides children with adequate skills for working life.

Nick Boles: The abiding principle of our plan for education is that schools should do everything possible to prepare young people for life in modern Britain. Ensuring that young people are prepared for the workplace and equipped with the skills, experience and qualifications that employers want is central to this.My Rt hon. friend the Secretary of State for Education has made clear that she wants to see improvements to the quality of careers advice and guidance available to young people, with more schools and employers working together to ensure that pupils make the transition from education into work successfully. We have issued revised statutory guidance, underpinning the duty to secure independent careers guidance, to strengthen the requirement for schools to build links with employers to inspire and mentor students. We have also asked the National Careers Service to broker those relationships where that is needed. We are keeping these changes under review and are considering what further action may be necessary.We are linking the education system more closely to the world of work with an emphasis on learning practical skills through new Technical Awards for 14- to- 16-year-olds, and Tech Levels for 16- to- 19-year-olds, providing a high-quality vocational alternative to A levels that leads to a recognised occupation. The introduction of Study Programmes for all 16- to- 19-year-olds is also expanding the provision of genuine work experience and work-related learning for all post-16 students. We have invested in new apprenticeships and introduced traineeships to give young people the skills and experience they need to compete successfully for a job.

Health Education: Sex

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what her policy is on the promotion of sexual education for Key Stage 3 pupils.

Mr Nick Gibb: Sex and relationship education (SRE) is compulsory in maintained secondary schools. When teaching SRE, all schools (including academies through their funding agreements) must have regard to the Secretary of State’s guidance.   The statutory guidance makes clear that all sex and relationship education should be age-appropriate and that schools should ensure that young people develop positive values and a moral framework that will guide their decisions, judgments and behaviour.   The Department for Education also encourages schools to draw on resources produced by experts to inform their SRE teaching. For example, the PSHE Association, the Sex Education Forum and Brook have published ‘Sex and Relationships Education for the 21st century’, which helps schools to take into account recent changes in technology and legislation when teaching SRE.

Further Education

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of students that completed further education in (a) Ashfield constituency, (b) Nottinghamshire and (c) England went on to (i) university, (ii) a full-time job and (iii) an apprenticeship in each of the last five years.

Nick Boles: Destination measures were produced for students who entered an A level or other Level 3 qualification in June 2014 for the 2010/11 cohort, showing their destinations in 2011/12. This was the first time that the data had been compiled separately for Further Education (FE) students – those in FE colleges, sixth form colleges and FE providers – and those in school sixth formsThe table below shows data for England and Nottinghamshire local authority (LA) for FE students. Separate figures for full-time employment are not available. No figures are available for Ashfield constituency as it has no relevant FE or sixth form colleges.The tables, which include comparable data for school sixth forms, are published online:www.gov.uk/government/statistics/destinations-of-key-stage-4-and-key-stage-5-pupils-2011-to-2012The figures for 2011/12 are:Destination Measures for key stage 5: 2010/11 cohort1 from further education going into a 2011/12 destination. % going into a sustained2 destinationAreaNumber3 of further education4 students Employment and/or training5Higher6 education Apprenticeships England170,9107%44%5%Nottinghamshire9204%31%6%Source: National Pupil DatabaseFootnotes 1All students who entered an A Level or other Level 3 qualification. This includes all level 3 qualifications i.e. general or applied A levels, AS examinations or other level 3 qualifications. These students are mostly academic age 17. There is also a number of students of academic age 16 and 18 in the cohort.2Sustained participation for the first two terms, October to March.3Number of students rounded to the nearest 10.4Further education includes students from further education colleges, sixth form colleges and other further education providers; it excludes school sixth forms5This includes all young people who were recorded as having been in employment and/or training for at least 5 months for the sustained period, October to March6Higher Education includes students at higher education institutions or undertaking higher education provision at a further education college

Kings Science Academy

Mr David Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will publish the Free School application for Kings Science Academy in Bradford.

Mr David Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 15 October 2014, to Question 209601, on free schools: Sheffield, who was named as Chair of Governors in the application to establish a free school at Milner Fields in Bradford.

Mr David Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 15 October 2014, to Question 209601, on free schools: Sheffield, who was named as Chair of Governors in the application to establish a free school at Darnall in Sheffield.

Mr Edward Timpson: There is a police investigation taking place regarding events at Kings Science Academy. Until such time as those investigations are brought to a close and a full and final determination reached, it would not be appropriate to release any related information held by the Department for Education.The Department has made a public commitment to release all successful free school applications once all personal information has been removed. Should the investigation conclude by the time the first batch of applications are released in December, the application for the Kings Science Academy in Bradford will be released at that time.The release of the names of the proposed Chairs of Governors at the proposed schools in Milner Fields and Darnall might contravene the data protection rights of the individuals concerned.

Children and Families Act 2014

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the take-up of the local offer as contained in the Children and Families Act 2014; and if she will make a statement.

Mr Edward Timpson: 99% of local authorities, including Herefordshire, have published their local offers and are required by the Children and Families Act 2014 to review them in consultation with children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities and their parents. This will enable local authorities to assess how responsive their local offer is to local needs and take action to improve it.

Schools: Defibrillators

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what progress she has made on securing a deal with a defibrillator supplier to facilitate the roll-out of defibrillators to schools.

Mr David Laws: The Department for Education is currently working in partnership with the Department of Health and stakeholders to finalise arrangements for rolling out defibrillators to schools. We have developed a detailed minimum specification in partnership with stakeholders to ensure that devices are appropriate to schools’ requirements and represent value-for-money. A reverse auction has been held and competitive bids submitted. The outcome of the process remains subject to approval. We expect to make an announcement in early December.

Ministry of Justice

Human Trafficking: Convictions

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people have been convicted for offences related to human trafficking since January 2013.

Mike Penning: The number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates’ courts and found guilty at all courts for offences related to human trafficking, in England and Wales, for calendar year 2013 (the latest data available), can be viewed in the table. Human trafficking and modern day slavery is an appalling crime that has no place in today's society. That is why we have brought forward a Modern Slavery Bill, one of the first of its kind in the world. The Modern Slavery Bill will give law enforcement the tools to tackle modern slavery and human trafficking. It will consolidate and toughen existing legislation, making it simpler for the police and prosecutors to understand, ensure that perpetrators can receive suitably severe punishments for these appalling crimes, including life sentences, and enhance protection for victims.



Defendants proceeded against for human trafficking
(Excel SpreadSheet, 14 KB)

Prisons: Employment

Mr Ben Bradshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of prisoners were working in industrial activity in each public sector prison in England and Wales in each year since 2010-11.

Andrew Selous: I refer the Honourable Member to my response of 21 October to his earlier question (207329) on this subject: http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-questions-answers/?page=1&max=20&questiontype=AllQuestions&house=commons%2clords&member=230&dept=54&uin=207329 I am sorry for the delay in replying.

Drugs: Misuse

Mr David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many youth custodial sentences have been awarded for drug offences in the last five years; and how many of those sentences are for (a) primary offences and (b) non-Class A offences.

Andrew Selous: The principal aim of the youth justice system in England and Wales is the prevention of offending by children and young people under the age of 18. Courts must have regard to this aim and to the welfare of the offender when sentencing a child or young person with the emphasis being on approaches that seem most likely to be effective with young people. Table 1: Number of Juveniles sentenced to immediate custody for all drug offences[1] and for primary non-Class A drug offences[2] England and Wales 2009-2013[3][4]  All Drug Offences1 Number of Juveniles sentencedPrimary Non-Class A Drug Offences2 Number of Juveniles sentenced20092232009562010222201084201118520116820121292012472013137201331 Custodial sentences are available for those young people who commit the most serious offences and who fail to respond to community interventions. There are also a number of community sentences which are available to the courts which are not covered by the figures above. As part of the Youth Rehabilitation Order, a Drug Treatment Requirement is available, where the young person’s drug use has been identified as a substantive factor in their offending behaviour. The Drug Treatment Requirement means that the young person must submit to treatment during the period specified in the order with a view to the reduction or elimination of the young person’s dependency on, or propensity to misuse, drugs. [1] Data includes Sections 12, 13, 19(a), (b) Criminal Justice Co-Operation Act 1990, RR.6(5), 7, 8, & 9(2) Controlled Drugs (Drug Precursors)(Community External Trade) Regs 2008, Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 (SS.50(2), (3) & (5), 68 (2) & (4) & 170(1), (2), (3) & (4) & Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 SS 327-330, 333, 334 (1,2) & 336 (5) & (6) [2] Data excludes the following offence descriptions and corresponding statutes: Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 SEC 4(2)(3) SS.170(1)(b) & (3) & (4) & Sch.1,P.1 SEC 19, SEC 8, Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 SEC 4(2)(3) SS.170(1)(b) & (3) & (4) & Sch.1,P.1 SEC 19, SEC 8, Criminal Justice (International Co-operation) Act 1990 S.19(a)(b) [3] The statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. [4] Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.

Drugs: Misuse

Mr David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many maximum custodial sentences were awarded for class (a) A, (b) B and (c) C drugs in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Mike Penning: Drug offending is serious in itself and drug abuse also underlies a huge volume of acquisitive and violent crime which can blight communities. Parliament sets the maximum penalty for an offence at a level to deal with the worst possible case. This means that there will, rightly, be few cases where the maximum sentence is imposed. The independent Sentencing Council issued a sentencing guideline on drug offences, effective from February 2012, which brought sentencing guidance together for the first time to help to ensure consistent and proportionate sentencing for all drug offences that come before courts. The number of offenders sentenced to immediate custody that were given the maximum sentence for class A, B and C drug offences at all courts in England and Wales for 2013 (the latest data available), can be viewed in the table.



Offenders sentenced to immediate custody
(Excel SpreadSheet, 22.5 KB)

Prison Service

Mr David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prisons staff of what grades are currently performing detached duty at establishments other than the one at which they are employed.

Mr David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average cost is of Payment Plus for prisons staff on detached duty.

Mr David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average cost is of (a) travel and (b) subsistence for staff performing detached duty.

Andrew Selous: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Tooting on 17 October 2014, which covered the information now being requested and can be found at the link below.http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-questions-answers/?page=1&max=20&questiontype=AllQuestions&house=commons%2clords&uin=209423

Housing Benefit: Appeals

Mr David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many appeals have been made against the application of the shared accommodation rate; and how many of those appeals have been successful.

Mr Shailesh Vara: The First-tier Tribunal (Social Security and Child Support), administered by HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS), an Executive Agency of the Ministry of Justice, hears appeals against Local Authority decisions on Housing Benefit (HB), which includes the Shared Accommodation Rate (SAR). HMCTS does not record data specifically relating to appeals against SAR decisions and does not therefore hold the information requested. Information on appeals against HB decisions overall is published by Ministry of Justice in Tribunal Statistics Quarterly. The most recent report for the period April to June 2014, published on 11 September 2014 can be viewed at:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/tribunal-statistics-quarterly-april-to-june-2014.

Driving Offences

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many families of victims of driving offences his Department has met and consulted during its review of driving offences.

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he or officials of his Department will meet the families of Stefan Bowdley and Alex Reed to discuss his Department's review of driving offences.

Mike Penning: The Government’s examination of driving offences and penalties is ongoing and will involve taking the views of a number of victims, and families of victims of serious driving offences. I have plans to meet some victims’ families and representative groups over the coming weeks and would be happy to meet with the families of Stefan Bowdley and Alex Reed.

Ministry of Defence

Military Operations

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the UK plans to (a) bid to fill any of the nine gender adviser positions that are part of the Afghanistan Operation Resolute Support Force structure and (b) appoint an O7 rank or above to lead the Gender Advisory Unit; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Mark Francois: The UK does not have any current plans to do so.

Armed Forces: Location

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his policy is on disclosure to the press of armed forces personnel locations; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Mark Francois: Decisions are taken on a case by case basis to inform the public through the media of the locations where UK Armed Forces personnel are serving, when operational and personal security considerations allow.

Navy: Military Bases

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will place a copy of the Maritime Support and Delivery Framework in the Library.

Mr Philip Dunne: To place copies of the contracts with BAE Systems and Babcock Marine in the Library would require a thorough review of both contracts, which together comprise thousands of pages. This review process could only be carried out at disproportionate cost.

Armed Forces: Northern Ireland

Dr William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many armed forces personnel were based in Northern Ireland in each year from 2010 to 2013.

Mr Mark Francois: The Ministry of Defence has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Defence Equipment

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, where his Department's primary vehicle storage and distribution site is for all types of (a) military equipment, (b) Royal Engineering bridging, (c) boats and (d) construction plant; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Philip Dunne: Logistic Commodities and Services (LCS), part of Defence Equipment & Support, is responsible for the storage and distribution of non-explosive equipment across Defence. The majority of this equipment is stored and distributed from LCS Bicester and LCS Donnington.The primary vehicle storage and distribution site for Defence is LCS Ashchurch. Royal Engineering bridging equipment and boats are stored at LCS Ashchurch, LCS Ripon and LCS Longmoor. Engineer construction plant and field terrain mechanical handling equipment is provided to the Ministry of Defence, under contract, by the Amey Lex Consortium.

Joint Exercises

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what (a) assets and (b) personnel are taking part in Exercise Noble Justification.

Michael Fallon: The Ministry of Defence has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Warships

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the crew complement of (a) HMS Albion, (b) HMS Bulwark and (c) HMS Ocean by (i) rank and (ii) specialisation is.

Mr Mark Francois: The Ministry of Defence has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Armed Forces

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the (a) service liability, (b) funded strength and (c) total paid service strength is for the (i) Royal Navy, (ii) Army and (iii) Royal Air Force.

Mr Mark Francois: The Ministry of Defence has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Type 23 Frigates

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the crew complement of Duke class frigates is by (a) rank and (b) specialisation.

Mr Mark Francois: The Ministry of Defence has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Type 45 Destroyers

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the crew complement of the Daring class destroyers is by (a) rank and (b) specialisation.

Mr Mark Francois: The Ministry of Defence has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Intelligence Services

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Answer of 24 November 1993, Official Report, column 52W, on security services, how much expenditure by the security and intelligence agencies was contained in his Department's vote for financial years 1990-91 to 1993-94.

Michael Fallon: Information on the expenditure by the security and intelligence agencies prior to the creation of the single intelligence vote, introduced for financial year 1994-95, could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Land

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will place in the Library details of his Department's land release programme; and if he will make a statement.

Anna Soubry: A copy of the list showing land and property sold by the Ministry of Defence in the period since July 2014 has been placed in the Library of the House.

Aircraft Carriers

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the planned crew complement of the Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carrier is by (a) rank and (b) specialisation.

Mr Mark Francois: The Ministry of Defence has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Minesweepers

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the crew complement of the Hunt class minehunters is by (a) rank and (b) specialisation.

Mr Mark Francois: The Ministry of Defence has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Armed Forces: Compensation

Sandra Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how long each claimant has waited for the review and completion of a compensation claim under the War Pension and the Armed Forces Compensation System Schemes since the inception of those schemes.

Anna Soubry: The length of time each claimant has waited for the review and completion of a compensation claim under the War Pension and Armed Forces Compensation System since the inception of those schemes, in 1921 and 2005 respectively, is not available and can be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, the information below provides the average length of time taken to process claims under the War Pensions Scheme and Armed Forces Compensation Scheme in each year since 2009. Information before 2009 is not available.WAR PENSIONS SCHEME2009-10 45 working days2010-11 39 working days2011-12 51 working days2012-13 82 working days2013-14 110 working daysYear to date 103 working daysARMED FORCES COMPENSATION SCHEME2009-10 80 working days2010-11 93 working days2011-12 125 working days2012-13 164 working days2013-14 109 working daysYear to date 89 working days

Sierra Leone

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps the Government has taken to ensure that the 750 troops to be deployed to Sierra Leone have adequate training to minimise the risk of exposure to Ebola.

Mr Mark Francois: All Armed Forces personnel deploying under Op GRITROCK are required to undertake specific training before deploying to Sierra Leone, to mitigate the risk that Ebola represents.

Armed Forces: Pensions

Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will estimate the cost to the public purse of enabling all armed forces' widows to retain their pension in the event of later cohabiting or remarrying.

Anna Soubry: The Ministry of Defence has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Armed Forces: Suicide

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many cases of suicide by serving armed forces personnel resulted in a full service enquiry between 2002 and 2012.

Anna Soubry: The Ministry of Defence has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Navy: Personnel Management

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will place in the Library a copy of BR3 - Naval Personnel Management.

Anna Soubry: Book of Reference 3 – (Naval Personnel Management Regulations) is updated three times a year and is published online in full on the Royal Navy’s website at http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/~/media/royal navy responsive/documents/useful resources/br 3/20140110-br3home-u.pdf

Armed Forces: Publications

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will place in the Library a copy of Joint Service Publication 755.

Anna Soubry: The Joint Service Publication 755 “Tri Service Positions and Assignment – Instructions” is currently being updated. It is expected that the latest version will be available by 30 November 2014. Once it is available, I will place a copy in the Library of the House.

Armed Forces: Compensation

Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will estimate the cost to the public purse of uprating the military compensation of injured veterans by whichever is the higher of earnings, inflation or 2.5 per cent.

Anna Soubry: We have not undertaken any formal estimates on uprating the military compensation of injured veterans by whichever is the higher of earnings, inflation or 2.5 per cent. Our approach, increasing awards with reference to the Consumer Price Index, is in line with other public sector schemes, and consistent with the measure of inflation used by the Bank of England.

Veterans: Mental Health Services

Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will estimate the cost to the public purse of guaranteeing veterans with mental health problems evidence-based treatment provided by practitioners with an understanding of veterans' needs within 18 weeks of referral.

Anna Soubry: The provision of mental health services for veterans is a matter for the Department of Health and therefore no such estimate has been undertaken. You will be aware of the announcement made by my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister on 8 October 2014, announcing new waiting time standards from April 2015 for the treatment of mental health conditions by NHS England. I also understand that the Scottish Government has set a target for the NHS in Scotland to deliver a maximum 18 week wait from referral to treatment for Psychological therapies from December 2014.

Veterans: Employment

Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will estimate the cost to the public purse of including spouses and early service leavers in the resettlement support provided by the Careers Transition Partnership.

Anna Soubry: The estimated cost of the Early Service Leavers enhanced support under the current Career Transition Partnership (CTP) contract from October 2013 to 30 September 2015 is £1 million.The estimated cost of continuing this provision and the employment support to spouses (a new requirement) in the CTP contract beyond 1 October 2015 is not yet available as the bidders have yet to submit their tenders.

Veterans: Hearing Aids

Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will estimate the cost to the public purse of ensuring that (a) all veterans with service-related hearing problems are able to have their MoD-issued hearing aids serviced and replaced at no cost and (b) working-age veterans can access higher grade hearing aids including in-the-ear aids.

Anna Soubry: The provision of hearing aids for veterans is a matter for the Department of Health (DH) and therefore no such estimate has been undertaken. For veterans of a working age, priority National Health Service (NHS) treatment and access to clinically appropriate digital aids where hearing problems are due to service is already best practice across the United Kingdom. For veterans with hearing loss just below the compensation threshold I have written to my Ministerial colleagues responsible for health in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and have their agreement in principle that these individuals should be able to access NHS supplied digital aids. The DH has advised recently that the NHS England strategy on hearing aids is currently out for consultation with a view to sign off early next year.

Iraq

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many targets the Royal Air Force has hit in Iraq since 26 September 2014; how many casualties have occurred as a result; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Mark Francois: The Ministry of Defence has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Defence

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list his Department's (a) category A, (b) category B and (c) category C defence projects.

Mr Philip Dunne: The Ministry of Defence has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Defence

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list his Department's category D defence projects.

Mr Philip Dunne: The information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost as category D defence equipment projects are up to £20 million and defence infrastructure projects are up to £10 million in value. Category D projects are also within the discretion of each Command under the delegated model of defence transformation.

Navy: US Coast Guard

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will place in the Library a copy of the Memorandum of Understanding on US coast guard sailors serving on Royal Navy warships signed by the US Coast Guard Commandant and Admiral Sir George Zambellas in July 2014.

Michael Fallon: This will be considered in consultation with our partners in the US Coast Guard.

Marines

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the order of battle is of the Commando Brigade.

Mr Mark Francois: The Ministry of Defence has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

NATO

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will place in the Library a copy of the letter of intent signed at the NATO Summit on 4 September 2014 on the development of a NATO Joint Expeditionary Force.

Michael Fallon: The Ministry of Defence has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Veterans: Visual Impairment

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the number of veterans who have left the armed forces with visual impairment injuries in each of the last 10 years.

Anna Soubry: The Ministry of Defence has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Department for Work and Pensions

Telephone Services

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what his Department's policy is on using telephone lines for which there is a charge for the Department's customer service lines or helplines.

Steve Webb: The Department’s policy is that calls to claim benefit by telephone should be free so we use 0800 free phone numbers for these lines. For other enquiry helplines the Department has been introducing 0345 numbers but will retain 0845 prefixes; this will enable the customers to choose the most cost effective option dependant on their own call tariff. Any charges that apply to these calls are set by the customer’s telephone or mobile operator and vary depending call plan type and the time of day at which the call is made.

Industrial Health and Safety

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department plans to take to respond to the European Commission's new Strategic Framework on Health and Safety at Work 2014-2020.

Mr Mark Harper: The government responded to the European Commission’s 2013 public consultation on a new policy framework for health and safety at work in the European Union. This emphasised the need for any new policy framework to have a focus on better regulation, supporting the single market and economic growth as well as sharing good practice between member states and supporting SMEs on risk management. The government was therefore pleased to see the commitment to simplify EU health and safety at work legislation in the new EU Strategic Framework, and is continuing to engage with the Commission to help realise this aim. The government is arguing for more proportionate, risk-based approaches to EU workplace health and safety regulation to help businesses by reducing administrative burdens while maintaining necessary protections for workers.

Jobseeker's Allowance: Disqualification

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of the jobseeker's allowance claimant count has been sanctioned in each month from October 2012 to date.

Esther McVey: Information on the number of Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) sanctions each month is published at: https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/   Guidance on how to extract the information required can be found at:   https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Stat-Xplore_User_Guide.htm   Claimant count JSA monthly figures are published at:   https://www.nomisweb.co.uk   This information will enable you to estimate the proportion sanctioned each month.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Landfill: EU Law

Mr Peter Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the removal of the derogations in the EU Landfill Directive will deliver the Best Overall Environmental Outcome; and how her Department made that assessment.

Dan Rogerson: The Government considers that the principles outlined in the “Strategy for Hazardous Waste Management in England” (Defra 2010) provide a framework for promoting the Best Overall Environmental Outcome for hazardous waste management consistent with Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on waste. The Waste Framework Directive introduced a new five-step waste hierarchy which member states must introduce into national waste management laws, and which must be applied by member states in this priority order. Waste prevention, as the preferred option, is followed by reuse, recycling, recovery including energy recovery, and as a last option, safe disposal. In “Guidance on applying the waste hierarchy” (Defra 2011) the Government has indicated that the waste hierarchy already ranks waste management options according to what is best for the environment. Furthermore, in the Strategy for Hazardous Waste Management in England, the Government has stated:“hazardous waste should be managed by waste producers and waste managers in accordance with the EU waste hierarchy. In applying the hierarchy, hazardous waste producers and waste managers shall opt for hazardous waste management that takes into account the resource value of hazardous wastes, and the need for health and safety to be maintained and delivers the best overall environmental outcome. This may require specific hazardous waste streams departing from the hierarchy where this is justified by life-cycle thinking on the overall impacts of the generation and management of such waste.”

Bees: Beetles

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with the Irish government to prevent the spread of the beehive beetle.

Dan Rogerson: The outbreak of the small hive beetle has been discussed in European Union meetings by Member State officials including those representing the UK and Irish Governments.

Landfill: EU Law

Mr Peter Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which existing derogations in the EU Landfill Directive the UK applies.

Dan Rogerson: The Landfill Directive (1999/31/EC) was transposed into domestic legislation by the Landfill (England and Wales) Regulations 2002. The majority of the provisions came into force on 15 June 2002. The Landfill Directive is supplemented by Council Decision 2003/33/EC establishing criteria and procedures for the acceptance of waste at landfills pursuant to Article 16 and Annex II to the Landfill Directive. Between them they contain many derogations which can be applied. The information requested on the existing derogations in the Landfill Directive that the UK applies could only be provided at disproportionate cost. It is generally Government policy to take advantage of any derogations permitted by EU legislation which keep requirements to a minimum when transposing into UK legislation, as failure to do so would amount to gold plating.An example is the derogation from the landfill diversion targets contained in Article 5 of the Landfill Directive. This relates to targets to progressively reduce the biodegradable municipal waste being sent for disposal in landfill. EU wide targets were established for 2006, 2009 and 2016 for reduction of biodegradable municipal waste. As the UK started from a point where over 80% of this waste was being landfilled in 1995, a four year derogation on these targets was available, which the UK applied. Another Landfill Directive derogation of current interest, and one which also applies in England and Wales, is the practice of relying on higher Landfill Directive waste acceptance criteria (the so-called 3xWAC derogation) to enable hazardous waste to continue to be landfilled.

Landfill: EU Law

Mr Peter Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which derogations in the EU Landfill Directive the Government is planning to remove from application in the UK.

Dan Rogerson: In the 2010 “Strategy for Hazardous Waste Management in England” the Government signalled its intention to end the practice of relying on higher Landfill Directive waste acceptance criteria (WAC, the so-called 3xWAC derogation) to enable hazardous waste to continue to be landfilled. The Environment Agency consulted in April this year on the removal of this derogation in Council Directive 1999/31/EC on the landfill of waste. Defra is considering the responses to the consultation with the Environment Agency and will be engaging with the waste industry to obtain more information on the impact of the removal of this derogation. The Government is not currently considering the removal of any other derogations in the Landfill Directive.

Groceries Code Adjudicator

Miss Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the capacity of the Grocery Code Adjudicator to extend the scope of its remit to relations between milk producers and processors.

George Eustice: The remit of the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) stems from the Competition Commission Report of 2008 which found evidence that the large supermarkets were using their buying power unfairly against their direct suppliers. The Groceries Supply Code of Practice was introduced in 2009 as a voluntary measure to deal specifically with this issue. In 2013 the GCA was introduced to give legal underpinning to the Code. Changes to the GCA remit require changes to the 2013 Act. It is the responsibility of the Secretary of State for the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills to decide if this is necessary. The Government takes this issue very seriously. Included in the 2013 Act is a legal requirement to review the GCA. The first Review is in 2016. This will give us the opportunity to consider further the scope of the GCA.

Fisheries: Devon

Mr Geoffrey Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will take steps to prevent the North Devon fishing industry being subject to a ban on the landing of ray.

George Eustice: On 12 October, the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) closed the Area VII skates and rays fishery to all English vessels. This decision was taken after the latest landings information indicated that, after allowance is made for landings already made but not yet entered onto the MMO database, the UK quota for this stock has been exhausted. Attempts to acquire additional quota through international quota swaps in order to keep the fishery open have not yet been successful.It is important that the UK does not exceed the quotas allocated to it, which can result in penalties being applied. This would make subsequent management of the fisheries more difficult. However, I have asked the MMO to monitor the situation closely to see if there is any possibility of reopening the fishery on a limited basis if the level of unrecorded landings is lower than anticipated. I have also asked MMO to redouble its efforts to obtain additional quota through international swaps. Even if sufficient quota cannot be found to enable the fishery to reopen this year, it will reopen on 1 January 2015.

Dogs: Tagging

Miss Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the statement of 6 February 2013, Official Report, column 15WS, on irresponsible dog ownership, what representations she has received on regulations relating to compulsory microchipping of dogs in England; and what response she has given to those representations.

George Eustice: Since February 2013, Defra has held a number of discussions with a range of bodies and stakeholders involved in dog microchipping and there is wide support for the policy.

Bovine Tuberculosis

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what information her Department holds on the effectiveness of a programme of cattle movement controls and badger vaccination; and what information her Department holds on the effectiveness of such a programme when badger culling is also carried out.

George Eustice: Defra’s Strategy for achieving bovine TB free status for England involves deploying a package of interventions informed by scientific and veterinary advice to address all likely routes of disease transmission. Due to the complexity of the disease, most effects of interventions will only be seen several years after their introduction and it will be difficult to assign cause and effect to any particular intervention. Consequently, success is measured through the combined impacts of a national system of intervention, rather than looking at individual components in isolation.

Rivers: Pollution

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to prevent plastic contaminants in UK river basins from reaching the sea.

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to (a) prevent and (b) rectify plastic and litter contamination of (i) UK river basins and (ii) the sea.

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department has taken to study the effect of plastic and litter contamination of UK river basins on local biodiversity.

Dan Rogerson: The Government focuses on preventing litter from entering rivers and the sea by reducing it at source.Through the waste hierarchy, we seek to reduce the amount of waste produced in the first place and to encourage greater reuse and recycling of goods and materials. The Waste Prevention Programme for England, published in December last year, sets out actions for government, businesses, the wider public sector, civil society and consumers to prevent waste.Where litter is found on waterside land, the responsibility for rectifying it depends on the ownership and management arrangements. The responsibility for removing litter may fall on local authorities, appropriate Crown authorities, designated statutory undertakers and the governing bodies of educational institutions. All of these bodies have a statutory duty to keep specified land clear of litter and refuse. The Code of Practice on Litter and Refuse recommends that canals and waterside areas should be subject to regular and systematic management and monitoring of litter and refuse.Investment by the water companies to improve sewerage infrastructure has resulted in a significant reduction in sewage-related litter entering rivers and the sea through screening of discharges and improvements to sewage treatment.We welcome work such as that done by Keep Britain Tidy and Anglian Water through their RiverCare programme to engage local communities in clearing litter, removing non-native species, surveying and monitoring flora and fauna and carrying out habitat management and restoration in their local rivers.Defra will shortly be consulting on a programme of measures, including for marine litter, as part of the implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. The UK is contributing to the OSPAR convention’s regional action plan on marine litter in the north-east Atlantic.   Defra has not undertaken any recent studies into the effect of plastic and litter contamination on rivers; however, Defra is funding a study into the possible effects of microplastics in the marine environment.

Department for Communities and Local Government

EU Grants and Loans

Mr Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what proportion of funds allocated in each region under the European Regional Development Fund have been returned as a result of slippage and underperformance in each region; and on what dates each such withdrawal took place.

Kris Hopkins: In 2013, £4.1 million was withdrawn from European Regional Development Fund allocations, which represents a tiny proportion of the total £2.74 billion budget. All spending of taxpayers’ money must ensure value for money and money should not be spent on poor quality projects. In addition, all spending must comply with complex EU rules, or else risk “financial corrections” down the line. The European Regional Development Fund is a circular programme. UK taxpayers’ money is given to the European Union budget. Under the Fund, a local project receives a contract, spends money and then claims from DCLG. DCLG then claims funds back from the European Commission. The whole process goes through a complex auditing process involving DCLG auditors and then European Union auditors. After a period of time, the majority of unspent funding is returned to the UK Government by the European Commission. We continue to have concerns over the bureaucratic and time consuming nature of the related processes involved in the programme.

Families

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Prime Minister's speech of 15 August 2011 calling for a family test to be applied to all domestic policy, which policies of his Department have been so assessed to date.

Kris Hopkins: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my rt. hon. Friend the Minister of State for Pensions (Steve Webb) on 13 October, PQ 208864.

Planning Permission

Caroline Nokes: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with what strategic housing allocations priorities local communities must comply.

Caroline Nokes: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether neighbourhood plans have to meet a minimum number of homes allocated.

Brandon Lewis: Neighbourhood planning provides a powerful set of tools for local people to ensure that they get the right types of development for their community. It is for communities to make their own choices as to what planning matters they wish to address in their Neighbourhood Plan subject to being in general conformity with the strategic policies in their Local Plan.

Travel

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential for planning to increase active and sustainable travel to improve the well-being of communities; what steps his Department is taking to make roads safer for people on foot and bikes; and if he will make a statement.

Brandon Lewis: I refer the hon. Member to the Government’s cycling delivery plan, published on 16 October, which can be found online at:www.gov.uk/government/consultations/cycling-delivery-plan-informal-consultation The National Planning Policy Framework asks planners to work to create safe and secure layouts which minimise conflicts between traffic and cyclists or pedestrians, and give priority to pedestrian and cycle movements. It also encourages parking provision for motorcycles. My Department has this year published planning guidance which: Seeks to promote walking and cycling, whilst avoiding unfairly penalising drivers;Asks that councils’ Local Plans consider how to support walking and cycling facilities, and assess cycle safety;Promotes the provision of bike storage space in new developments; andRecommends removing street clutter, to make pavements clearer and more spacious for pedestrians.

Mobile Homes: Sales

Gareth Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will review the 10 per cent commission payable on the sale of a mobile or park home to the site owner under the Mobile Homes Act 1983.

Brandon Lewis: Through the Mobile Homes Act 2013, the Government has marked its commitment to providing protection to park home owners and to enable them to sell their homes at the full market value without undue interference from site operators. The commission that the site owner is entitled to receive on the sale of a home is up to 10 per cent, and represents a legitimate income strand in running a park home business. It enables park home sites to be adequately managed and maintained. Where sites are not being properly managed local authorities have new enforcement powers to require compliance with licence conditions. In that context, there are no current plans to review the amount of commission payable on the sale of a park home, to the site owner.

Orion Land and Leisure

Mr Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will publish any correspondence his Department has had with Orion on the Shepherd Bush Market development scheme and the compulsory purchase order granted by Hammersmith and Fulham local authority.

Brandon Lewis: The decision to confirm The London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham (Shepherds Bush Market Area) Compulsory Purchase Order 2013 was issued on 10 October. My rt. hon. Friend, the Secretary of State's decision letter sets out all post inquiry correspondence received by the Department and summarises its content in paragraph 9 of the decision letter. There is no reference made to Orion in paragraph 9 of the decision letter but reference is made to Development Securities who are a co-investor in the scheme. The Department has not corresponded with Orion on this matter.

Wales Office

Devolution

Karl McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues on the effects of the Scottish referendum result on government policy on further devolution for Wales.

Stephen Crabb: I refer the hon Gentleman to the answer I gave to the hon Members for Ynys Môn and Harrow East earlier today.

HM Treasury

Income Tax

Greg Mulholland: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many and what proportion of adults in the UK aged (a) 21 to 64 years old and (b) 65 years and over pay income tax; and how many in each such group pay tax at the higher rate or above.

Mr David Gauke: The estimate for the tax year 2014-15 shows that there are 23.7m taxpayers aged between 21 and 64 and 5.9m aged 65 or over. Within this there are approximately 4.4m taxpayers aged between 21 and 64 and 500,000 taxpayers aged 65 or over who pay the higher rate or above.   This table contains estimates of the total number of taxpayers aged under 21 years old, 21 to 64 years old and those aged 65 and over split by the marginal tax rates. These figures are projected for 2014-15.   The estimates are based upon the 2011-12 Survey of Personal Incomes using economic assumptions consistent with the OBR’s March 2014 economic and fiscal outlook to project forward.   Estimates of the UK population by age are published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Table A3.1 contains the mid-year population projections for 2014.   http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/publications/re-reference-tables.html?edition=tcm%3A77-318453 



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Financial Services: Cayman Islands

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the evidential basis of the decision by the Financial Conduct Authority to list the Cayman Islands as a high-risk country for financial crime.

Andrea Leadsom: The Financial Conduct Authority is an independent non-governmental body, given statutory powers by the Financial Services and Markets Act (2000) as amended by the Financial Services Act (2012). As an independent body, the evidential basis of their decisions is a matter for the FCA.   HM Treasury is aware that the FCA has removed the list in question from its website, and is no longer using it.

Landfill Tax

Mr Peter Lilley: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the effect of his Department's proposed changes to the definition of qualifying materials for the lower rate of landfill tax on the remediation of contaminated brownfield land.

Mr Peter Lilley: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when Ministers in his Department were made aware of HM Revenue and Customs' proposed changes to the definition of qualifying materials for the lower rate of landfill tax.

Mr Peter Lilley: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he expects bottom ash from municipal waste incinerators to continue to qualify for the lower rate of landfill tax under his Department's proposed changes to the definition of qualifying material; and what estimate he has made of the additional annual landfill tax revenue that HM Revenue and Customs will receive from local authorities as a consequence of that change.

Mr Peter Lilley: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what consultation has taken place between his Department, HM Revenue and Customs and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the effect of changing the definition of qualifying material for the lower rate of landfill tax on (a) achieving the Best Overall Environment Outcome, (b) disruption to markets and (c) levels of waste crime.

Mr Peter Lilley: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much extra total revenue HM Revenue and Customs expects to raise in standard rate landfill tax as a result of the implementation of his Department's proposed changes to the definition of qualifying materials for the lower rate of landfill tax.

Priti Patel: In response to concerns over the mis-description of fines (residual waste from waste processing produced by mechanical treatment plants) the Government announced in Budget 2014 a consultation on introducing a new testing regime. This loss on Ignition (LOI) testing regime will help operators of landfill sites to determine the correct landfill tax liability of fines.   The proposal for this test arose from a government-industry working group, including representatives from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), HM Treasury, the Environment Agency, the Environmental Services Association (representing the main landfill site operators) and the United Resource Operators Consortium (UROC) (representing waste transfer stations and skip hire operators). The Government held a formal consultation over the summer which closed on 19 September 2014.   Comments on the assessment of impacts in the Taxes Impact Assessment were welcomed within the consultation document. The Government is currently considering its response and an impact note will be published alongside draft legislation.   HMRC is also considering revising its guidance on landfill tax lower rating and conducted an informal consultation with industry in Autumn 2013. That consultation is continuing through the government-industry working group. The proposed revisions include clarification on the landfill tax liability of hazardous wastes.   In relation to hazardous waste, the Government apply the underlying principle of the more polluting the waste the higher the tax. According to existing guidance, wastes must be non-hazardous to qualify for the lower rate of landfill tax. As the informal consultation raised concerns over the potential impact on brownfield development there are no plans to publish the revised guidance until this issue has been resolved. Publication of any revised guidance will only go ahead once Ministers have given approval.   Bottom ash from waste combustion is liable to the lower rate of landfill tax. There are no plans to change this policy.

Economic Policy: Northern Ireland

Dr William McCrea: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Executive regarding his long-term economic plan.

Danny Alexander: Treasury Ministers and officials have regular discussions with Northern Ireland Executive Ministers and officials on a wide variety of topics.

Public Sector Debt

Dr William McCrea: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what further plans he has to protect vulnerable groups while tackling the deficit.

Priti Patel: The government is committed to a fair tax and benefit system where everyone contributes to reducing the deficit, and those with the most make the largest contribution. Our published distributional analysis confirms that the richest are continuing to contribute the most to consolidation, even as a share of income and benefits in kind. Our reforms to the tax and welfare system promote work and personal responsibility while protecting the most vulnerable members of society. For example, the government has protected people with disabilities by uprating disability benefits in line with CPI rather than 1 percent, has implemented the triple lock on the basic state pension to protect pensioner incomes throughout this parliament, and has implemented the pupil premium and extended the free school meals program to support disadvantaged children.

Business: Loans

Dr William McCrea: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what further steps he plans to take to encourage banks to lend money to small and medium-sized businesses.

Andrea Leadsom: The Government has taken significant action to increase bank lending to smaller businesses, such as through the Funding for Lending Scheme, and through supporting non-bank lending channels via the British Business Bank.   In Autumn 2013 a joint United Kingdom and Northern Ireland Ministerial Task Force was set up to look at ways to promote lending and increase support for businesses in Northern Ireland.   The Government is also implementing further major reforms to boost competition in the provision of smaller business finance through the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill; these measures intend to improve access to SME Credit Information and to match SMEs rejected for SME finance with challenger banks and alternative finance providers that are looking to offer finance.

Fuels: Prices

Dr William McCrea: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to decrease the price of fuel throughout the UK.

Priti Patel: Since 2011, the Government has taken action on fuel duty to support both households and businesses. As a result, pump prices will be nearly 20 pence per litre lower by the end of the parliament than they would have been under the previous government’s fuel duty plans.   In January 2013, the Office for Fair Trading published the results of a Call for Information to investigate whether or not competition problems existed in the road fuels market. This included investigating concerns that pump prices rise quickly when the wholesale price goes up but fall more slowly when it drops. Their analysis found very limited evidence of this, and in general, found that at a national level competition in the market is working well.

Employment

Dr William McCrea: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to increase opportunities for full-time employment across the UK.

Andrea Leadsom: The Government is committed to increasing the opportunities for full-time employment across the UK. That is why we introduced the Employment Allowance in April 2014 which entitles businesses and charities to a £2,000 allowance on their annual National Insurance contributions bill. The allowance is reducing the cost of employment, supporting small businesses aspiring to grow by hiring their first employee or expanding their workforce.  We are also abolishing Employer National Insurance contributions for under 21s on earnings up to £813 a week from April 2015 helping to support full-time employment for young people. The Government will of course continue to look at further ways to support full-time employment across the UK.

Business: Loans

Jon Trickett: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assistance the Government provides to enable a person to remain in a home against which a bank loan for a business has been secured when they have defaulted on that loan.

Andrea Leadsom: UK borrowers taking out a business loan secured on their home have a number of protections available to them.   The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has responsibility for the regulation of mortgages secured by a first charge against a borrower’s home, regardless of the purpose of that loan. These regulations include consumer protections to ensure that repossession is only used as a last resort.   Where borrowers are taking out a second charge loan of £25,000 or less for a business purpose they are also protected under the FCA’s regulatory regime for consumer credit. The Government is currently consulting on the transfer of the regulation of second charge mortgages to the same regime as first charge mortgages.   In addition, all borrowers are provided protection in the Courts, through the use of the Mortgage Pre-Action Protocol, which requires a Court to ensure that the lender has taken all reasonable steps to resolve the borrower’s payment difficulties before granting a possession order.

Debt Collection

Richard Fuller: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will require HM Revenue and Customs to pause debt recovery action when a case has been accepted for investigation by the Adjudicator's Office and is awaiting a decision.

Mr David Gauke: HMRC have no plans to change its current policy of treating each case on its merits. Where HMRC believe the debt should be paid they will ask the customer to make payment, and ultimately take recovery action, while the Adjudicator is investigating the complaint.

Aviation: Northern Ireland

Sammy Wilson: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect on Northern Ireland of the operation of the Regional Air Connectivity Fund.

Danny Alexander: Airports across the UK play an important role in securing connectivity for local populations and contribute to local, regional and national economies. The aviation sector’s economic output to the whole UK economy in 2011 was approximately £18 billion, and it employs around 220,000 workers directly and supports many more indirectly. The Government has not made an assessment of the potential effects on Northern Ireland of the operation of the Regional Air Connectivity Fund. Airports in Northern Ireland will be able to apply for support from the Fund if they meet the qualifying criteria.

Loans

Justin Tomlinson: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing real-time credit checking for lenders.

Andrea Leadsom: Credit data sharing is key to allowing lenders to make proper affordability assessments and promoting a competitive market. Having access to comprehensive data about their customers’ outstanding commitments may help lenders avoid making loans to customers who cannot afford to repay them.   Since 1 April 2014, credit reference agencies (CRAs) are regulated for their consumer credit activities by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).   The Government has made clear to payday lenders and CRAs that they must identify and remove any blockages involving real-time data sharing between payday lenders as a matter of urgency. The FCA has committed to prioritising improvements in this area, and has said it expects to see over 90% of payday firms participating in real-time data sharing and over 90% of loans being reported in real time by this November.

Revenue and Customs

Catherine McKinnell: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 26 September 2014 to Questions 208670, 208671, 208672 and 208673, what assessment he has made of HM Revenue and Customs' performance against each such operational target in 2013-14.

Priti Patel: The National Audit Office (NAO) works on behalf of Parliament and the taxpayer to hold government to account for the use of public money and to help public services improve performance.   The latest information on HMRC’s performance against operational targets was published in June 2013 in the NAO Report ‘Progress in tackling tobacco smuggling’ http://www.nao.org.uk/report/progress-in-tackling-tobacco-smuggling/

Department for Energy and Climate Change

Mining

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what amount has been paid in compensation or remediation for subsidence related to mineshafts and shaft collapse on (a) private and (b) local authority land in each of the last 10 years.

Matthew Hancock: A table, providing information on the number of claims associated with mine shafts and adits over the last 10 years, along with information on the expenditure incurred in their treatment, will be placed in the Libraries of the House.The Coal Authority do not differentiate between private and local authority so I am unable to provide the data split as requested.

Torbay

Mr Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how many visits were made by Ministers of his Department to Torbay constituency in the 12 months to 14 October 2014; whom the invitation for each such visit was issued by; and what the cost to the public purse was of each such visit.

Amber Rudd: The Department’s Ministers, from time to time, carry out official visits to different parts of the UK to conduct departmental business.The Department does not keep a central record of such visits.

Energy: Meters

David T. C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how many of the smart meters thus far installed in UK homes comply with the most recent recommended standards; how many will need to be replaced in the next 10 years to comply with such standards; and how many are currently (a) operational and (b) not operational.

Amber Rudd: DECC releases official statistics on a quarterly basis which give details of the number of smart meters installed quarter by quarter and the total number in operation by the larger energy suppliers at the end of the quarter.Information about smart meter rollout statistics, up to 30th June 2014, can be obtained from the Quarterly report published on 18 September:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/statistical-release-and-data-smart-meters-great-britain-quarter-2-2014.

Northern Ireland Office

National Crime Agency

Dr William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when she anticipates that the National Crime Agency will be full operational in Northern Ireland.

Dr William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent discussions she has had with Sinn Fein and the SDLP on the issue of the National Crime Agency operating in Northern Ireland.

Mrs Theresa Villiers: We are continuing to press for agreement on the full application of the NCA’s remit in Northern Ireland. Although Justice Minister Ford is leading discussions with the parties on agreeing the full extension of the NCA to Northern Ireland, I continue to raise the issue with them on a regular basis. Minister Ford recently submitted a paper to the Northern Ireland parties, which we believe should allay concerns about the NCA’s accountability. In the Government’s view there is no justification for continuing to delay this decision. I urge all parties to now ensure that Northern Ireland receives the same protection from serious and organised crime as the rest of the UK.

Department for Culture Media and Sport

BBC: Middle East

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions he has had with the BBC Trust on its role in monitoring accusations of bias by the BBC in its reporting of events in Israel and the Occupied Territories.

Mr Edward Vaizey: No such discussions have taken place

World War I: Anniversaries

Mr Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what progress his Department has made on refurbishment projects and national events first announced by the Government in 2012 to mark the UK's centenary commemoration of the start of the First World War.

Mrs Helen Grant: The new First World War galleries at imperial War Museum London, opened to great acclaim in July. This major regeneration project has provided a highly engaging focus for the centenary commemorations as well as a lasting legacy for future generations. Our commemorative events on 4 August in Glasgow, Belgium and London were well-received and set an appropriate tone for this four year programme of commemoration. Planning for our next national events to mark the centenary of the Gallipoli Campaign in April next year is well underway.

Writers

Mr Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what statistics his Department holds on trends in the number of people who work full time as writers; and if he will take steps to encourage people to pursue careers as writers.

Mr Edward Vaizey: The Office for National Statistics regularly publishes information on the numbers of people working in different occupations in the United Kingdom. The most recent update shows that, between April and June 2014, the number of ‘authors, writers and translators’ working full-time was 47,000. Arts Council England funds organisations nationwide including National Portfolio Organisations offering high quality creative and professional training to writers, particularly aimed at emerging talent and funds and supports individual writers/literature via the Grants for the Arts funding scheme.

Football

Jesse Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions his Department had with the Football Association on the changes to the Owners and Directors Test introduced on 1 August 2014; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs Helen Grant: I meet regularly with the Football Association to discuss a range of issues, including the efficacy of the Owners’ and Directors’ Test. I expect that robust ownership rules should be consistently applied across the professional game with strong FA oversight.

House of Commons Commission

Training

Michael Fabricant: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross representing the House of Commons Commission, how many House of Commons staff have been supported by the House to gain nationally recognised management qualifications or degrees since 2010.

John Thurso: For a number of years the House Service has run comprehensive management skills programmes which over 200 managers have attended. These programmes have been externally verified and offer nationally recognised qualifications for participants who wish to complete additional assignments. Under these schemes, nine managers have achieved a formal qualification from the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) since 2010. The House has given support through allowing them time to attend the programme, study leave and fully funding the training and the qualification. During the same period a further six managers have gained management qualifications such as MBAs from externally run programmes. These have all been supported by the House Service through allowing time to attend the programme, study leave and a range of funding from 50% to 100% of course costs.

Department of Health

Meningitis: Vaccination

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the sale of the Bexsero form of meningococcal group B vaccine to GlaxoSmithKline on (a) his Department's negotiations with Novartis on a price for the vaccine and (b) the roll out of that vaccine.

Jane Ellison: As the commercial negotiations with Novartis are confidential and this includes any assessments made to inform the negotiations, it is not possible to provide the information requested.

NHS: Intellectual Property

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effect of the commercialisation of intellectual property in the NHS since 2010.

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what effect the adoption of commercialised NHS intellectual property has had on (a) cost savings and (b) patient safety in each of the last five years.

George Freeman: Neither the Department nor NHS England has made any such assessment.   We have been informed by NHS England that the cost of tracking the cost benefit of the adoption of every piece of intellectual property in the NHS would be excessive.   The Department and NHS England have commissioned leading universities to assess the impact of Innovation, Health and Wealth on a range of measures, including value for money, patient outcomes and economic growth.   In the meantime, the Innovation Scorecard monitors whether uptake and utility of innovations in the NHS is improving. Evidence suggests that steady growth is being achieved and the most recent information is available at:   www.hscic.gov.uk/searchcatalogue?productid=15598&q=innovation+scorecard&sort=Relevance&size=10&page=1#top

Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme

Dr Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions (a) he or (b) officials in his Department have had on reinvesting the industry rebate payments under the current Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme into (i) healthcare services and (ii) medicines expenditure.

George Freeman: The Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme (PPRS) as agreed with the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) does not cover the onward financial flows of payments to the National Health Service which are subject to the Government accounting and budgeting rules in the normal way. In particular there was no agreement to hypothecate PPRS payments. The Department has subsequently had a number of discussions with the ABPI and NHS England about the onward financial flows.   In respect of England, the anticipated payments in 2014-15 have been passed on to NHS England through the mandate and as such were included within commissioner allocations. The same is expected to apply in 2015-16. This means that the effect of the deal is felt across the NHS through the general funding allocations to clinical commissioning groups.   The Government is committed to improving access to clinically and cost-effective medicines including innovative new medicines. As part of implementing the PPRS, NHS England and the ABPI are discussing how best to improve access to and optimise patient outcomes from these medicines.

Diabetes

Dr William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with the devolved administrations on sharing good practice concerning the treatment of people diagnosed with diabetes.

Jane Ellison: There have been no recent discussions between my Rt. hon Friend the Secretary of State and devolved administrations on sharing good practice concerning the treatment of people diagnosed with diabetes.

Medical Treatments

Dr William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average cost is of treating a patient in (a) England and Wales and (b) Northern Ireland.

Jane Ellison: The average cost of treating a patient varies by setting. Health is a devolved matter in Wales and Northern Ireland, and the information is therefore not available in the format requested.

Mental Health Services

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations he has received on waiting lists for talking therapies.

Norman Lamb: The Department has received representations about waiting lists for talking therapies through parliamentary questions and from the We Need to Talk Coalition which comprises 28 mental health charities, professional organisations, Royal Colleges and service providers.   The Department and NHS England’s recently published five-year plan for mental health, Achieving Better Access to Mental Health Services by 2020, sets out the immediate actions this year and next to achieve better access and waiting times in mental health services. For the first time national standards for waiting times in mental health services will be set. These will include treatment within six weeks for 75% of people referred to the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme, with 95% of people being treated within 18 weeks.

NHS: Training

Sir Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make it his policy to ensure that NHS bursaries are funded for the full degree course; and if he will make a statement.

Dr Daniel Poulter: The NHS bursary is available to students in each year of their degree. The only exception to this is medical and dental students where the responsibility for funding these courses is shared between the Department for Business Innovation and Skills and the Department of Health. These students receive the standard student support package in the early years of study and the NHS bursary in the later years. Undergraduate students receive the bursary from their fifth year and graduate entry students from their second.   There are no plans to change the support that is made available.

Huntington's Disease

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent discussions his Department has had with the Huntingdon's Disease Association on the care of people with Huntingdon's disease.

Norman Lamb: The Department has no record of contact from the Huntington’s Disease Association in the recent past although a small number of our correspondents have been given details of the organisation’s website (http://hda.org.uk/) so that they might obtain further support.

Transvaginal Mesh Implants

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will review his policy on polypropylene transvaginal mesh implants in response to recent court judgements in the US.

George Freeman: A working group, chaired by NHS England and including patient representatives, clinical representatives, the Department and the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, has been set up to understand and address the concerns which have been raised about transvaginal mesh implants.

Obesity

Andy Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to ensure that obese and overweight patients receive expert advice on weight loss and weight management as early as possible.

Jane Ellison: The Government remains committed to providing overweight and obese individuals with expert advice, through supporting local public health teams and health professionals with the evidence based tools they need to deliver early support and advice in adopting healthier behaviours and reducing excess weight. We are giving local authorities £8.2 billion ring fenced public health funding over 3 years.   Local authorities, NHS England and clinical commissioning groups are responsible for the commissioning of the obesity care pathway, providing services based on expert guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).   Public Health England (PHE) provides tools and support to local authorities to provide evidence based and effective pathways and interventions for overweight and obese individuals to lose weight.   The National Child Measurement Programme and NHS Health Check are national mandatory public health functions which are the responsibility of local authorities. These services enable identification of the overweight and obese; in school aged children at reception and year 6 and for adults aged 40-74 years; and provide access to services.

Obesity and Arthritis

Andy Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if his Department will take steps to ensure that healthcare practitioners routinely check obese patients for signs of osteoarthritis.

Jane Ellison: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence clinical guideline ‘Obesity: Guidance on the prevention, identification, assessment and management of overweight and obesity in adults and children’ published in 2006, makes recommendations on the treatment of obese patients. The guideline outlines that patients who are overweight or obese should be assessed for a number of conditions, including osteoarthritis.

Cancer

Mr Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what funding his Department provides for businesses and organisations conducting research into the benefits of natural products in cancer therapy and treatment.

George Freeman: The Government has funding mechanisms in place for research and development relating to cancer treatments.   The Department's National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including the use of natural products in cancer treatment. These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money and scientific quality.   The NIHR is investing £16 million over five years (to 2017) in 14 Experimental Cancer Medicine Centres (ECMCs) across England with joint funding from Cancer Research UK. These centres bring together laboratory and clinical patient-based research to speed up the development of innovative cancer therapies and individualise patient treatment. Researchers at the Leicester ECMC are currently looking at whether curcumin – found in turmeric – can improve drug response in patients with advanced bowel cancer.   The NIHR manages the Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation programme, which bridges the gap between preclinical studies and evidence of clinical efficacy. The aim is to secure the progress of new technologies and interventions through their early clinical trials and onto larger, later clinical trials. The programme is funded by the Medical Research Council (MRC) and the NIHR and is not currently funding any studies of the use of natural products in cancer treatment.   Other sources of funding include the Biomedical Catalyst, which is a funding programme jointly operated by the MRC and Innovate UK. The programme provides responsive and effective support for the best translational life science opportunities arising. Grants are available to UK academics and small and medium enterprises seeking to move their research more quickly from discovery to commercialisation.

Breast Cancer

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he plans to take to protect the future of local breast network groups should his Department's proposal for discontinuing the National Cancer Peer Review programme from 2015 go ahead.

Dr Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will take steps to ensure the continuation of the National Cancer Peer Review programme.

Jane Ellison: The National Cancer Peer Review (NCPR) programme is currently under review by NHS England and a number of options are being considered. The provision of site specific networks, such as those for breast cancer, is written into the national cancer peer review requirements, therefore the future of local breast network groups will be decided as part of the review of the NCPR programme. As yet however, no decision has been made.

Diabetes

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the cost was of providing free prescriptions to people with diabetes in (a) England and (b) Havering in 2013-14.

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the cost was of providing free prescriptions to people with myxodema in (a) England and (b) Havering in 2013-14.

George Freeman: Information is not available in the format requested   Diabetes and Myxoedema are two of the specific conditions which entitle individuals to apply for a medical exemption certificate to provide them with exemption from prescription charges.

Obesity: Children

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of children aged between five and 18 are classified as obese in (a) England and (b) Havering.

Jane Ellison: Data on obesity are collected via the Health Survey for England. For children, the data are presented for age groups 2-10, 11-15 and 2-15. Adults are classified as those aged over 16.   13.7% of children aged 2-15 are classified as obese in England (Health Survey for England 2012).   13.1% of adults aged 16-24 are classified as obese in England (Health Survey for England 2012)   Data for Havering is not available from the Health Survey for England as this data collection is only produced at a national level. The number and percentage of children measured as obese or overweight (including obese), as part of the National Childhood Measure Programme (NCMP) in Havering is presented in the following table:Reception Year (4-5 years)Year 6 (10-11 years) Prevalence of obesityPrevalence of obesity Children%Children%2006/0718711.345120.32007/0818210.145219.02008/0925410.742617.62009/1030812.153921.32010/1126610.847719.32011/122659.850820.92012/132729.646319.9   Source: NCMP Local Authority Profile [accessed 20 October 2014] http://fingertips.phe.org.uk/profile/national-child-measurement-programme

Abortion

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what his policy is on the commissioning by government departments of services from organisations which advise that gender abortion is not illegal; and if he will make a statement.

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will require the British Pregnancy Advisory Service to cease distributing guidance that gender selective abortion is not illegal.

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether he has requested that the British Pregnancy Advisory Service alter its guidance that gender-selective abortion is not illegal.

Jane Ellison: Guidance issued by the Department in May this year states the Department’s view that gender alone is not a lawful ground under the Abortion Act. The Department does not directly commission abortion services but approves independent sector places to perform abortion. All independent sector clinics, including the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS), have confirmed that they will comply with the Department’s guidance and Required Standard Operating Procedures (RSOPs).

Ebola

Dr William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with the devolved administrations on Ebola screening at airports.

Jane Ellison: On 13 October 2014 we announced the decision to carry out entry screening for Ebola. This has now been implemented in Heathrow airport and will be expanded to Gatwick and Eurostar terminals this week and Manchester and Birmingham airport thereafter.   On 15 October 2014, there was a Four Nations Health Ministers meeting, with the devolved administrations, to discuss the United Kingdom response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, which included discussion on issues such as entry screening for Ebola. Additionally, officials from the Department of Health have been in regular contact with their counterparts from the devolved administrations via weekly telecommunications, in which Ebola screening at airports has been discussed. The Department continues to share information and best practise with the devolved administrations.

Dementia

Dr William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent discussions he has held with the devolved administrations on the standard of care provided for dementia patients across the UK.

Norman Lamb: A meeting of officials was held on 25 September 2014 to exchange information on current dementia care practice throughout the United Kingdom. The meeting was chaired by the National Clinical Director for Dementia for England, Professor Alistair Burns, with representatives present from the Department of Health, the Scottish Government, the Welsh Assembly and the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety for Northern Ireland. Future meetings are planned to take place every six months, with information exchanged on any key developments in between meetings.

NHS England

Dr Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the cost of compulsory redundancy payments for staff in NHS England was for each year from 2009-10 to 2013-14.

Dr Daniel Poulter: The NHS England Commissioning Board, known as NHS England, came into being on 1 October 2012 and took on its full responsibilities on 1 April 2013.   Information on compulsory redundancies made during 2013-14 is available as part of NHS England’s 2013-14 Annual Report, which is available on NHS England’s website at:   http://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/nhs-comm-board-ann-rep-1314.pdf   The Annual Report notes that no compulsory redundancies were made between 1 October 2012 and 31 March 2013.

Health Services: Private Sector

Mr Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much has been paid to Virgin Care to run the North Chelmsford NHS Healthcare Centre in Sainsburys in Springfield, Chelmsford in each year since it opened.

Dr Daniel Poulter: The information requested is not centrally held.

Veterans: Visual Impairment

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the proportion of people who registered as visually impaired who were veterans of the armed forces in each of the last three years.

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make it his policy to include an option on the official form by which people register as visually impaired that allows them to identify as a veteran.

Dr Daniel Poulter: The Department and NHS England do not currently collect specific data on the number of veterans registering as visually impaired and are unable to provide an estimate.   The Department will give further consideration to collecting this data and will discuss the possibility of including an option to identify as a veteran on the registration document with NHS England and the Health and Social Care Information Centre.

Women and Equalities

Access to Elected Office for Disabled People Fund

Kate Green: To ask the Ministers for Women and Equalities, how many disabled candidates have been supported by the Access to Elected Office fund since that fund was introduced; what the cost is of an average support package provided by that fund for a candidate; what amount the Government Equalities Office plans to spend in total on disabled candidates; what assessment has been made of that fund's effectiveness; and what plans the Government has for that fund after 2015.

Jo Swinson: The pilot Access to Elected Office fund has approved 57 grants for 50 disabled applicants; the average value of claims from the fund has been £4,289. £88,260 was claimed in grants over 2012-14 and £156,215 has been approved for drawdown since the fund was extended from 1 July 2014. Total expenditure will depend on the number of successful applications to the fund. An assessment of the fund’s effectiveness is planned for 2015 to inform a decision by the next Government on whether the fund should continue.